Atornee
Get Started Free
Generate Non-Compete Agreement

Lawyer reviewed templates

non-compete agreement template agency uk

Non-Compete Agreement Template for UK Agencys

If you run a UK agency and you need a non-compete agreement template, you already know the stakes. Clients get poached, ex-employees set up competing shops, and freelancers take your playbook to your rivals. A non-compete agreement template for agency UK contexts needs to do more than copy a generic clause — it needs to reflect how agencies actually operate: retainer relationships, named accounts, specialist knowledge, and contractor-heavy teams. UK courts apply a strict reasonableness test to restraint of trade clauses under common law. Too broad and the clause is unenforceable. Too narrow and it offers no real protection. This guide covers what a properly drafted agency non-compete must include, why free templates routinely fail this audience, and how Atornee helps you generate a document that is specific to your agency's structure. If your situation involves senior hires, equity, or cross-border work, escalate to a solicitor — this page will tell you when.

Generate Non-Compete Agreement
Instant Access
Lawyer Reviewed

Why this matters

Agency founders face a specific problem: the people and relationships that make your business valuable are also the easiest things for someone to walk out the door with. A departing account manager who takes three clients with them, or a co-founder who launches a competing agency six months later, can be genuinely business-threatening. Generic non-compete templates downloaded from the internet are almost always too broad to be enforceable under UK law, or too vague to cover the specific client lists, service lines, and geographic markets that matter to your agency. You need something built around your actual exposure.

The Atornee approach

Atornee lets you generate a non-compete agreement tailored to your agency's structure — whether you're protecting against employee poaching, client solicitation, or a departing partner setting up in competition. You answer plain-English questions about your business: who the agreement covers, which clients or sectors are at risk, what geographic area matters, and how long a restriction is realistic. Atornee uses that to produce a UK-law-compliant draft with enforceable, proportionate clauses. It is not a solicitor and does not give legal advice — but for most standard agency non-compete scenarios, it gets you to a solid first draft in minutes rather than days.

What you get

A non-compete agreement drafted around your agency's specific client relationships, service lines, and competitive landscape — not a one-size-fits-all template.
Restraint of trade clauses scoped to pass UK common law reasonableness tests, with duration and geographic limits that reflect what courts actually uphold.
Separate provisions for employees, contractors, and co-founders, because the legal position differs significantly across each group.
Client non-solicitation and employee non-poaching clauses included as standard, covering the two most common ways agencies lose value after a departure.
Plain-English explanations of each clause so you understand what you're signing and what you're asking others to sign.

Before you sign checklist

1
1. Identify exactly who the agreement is for — employee, freelancer, co-founder, or outgoing director — because the enforceability rules differ for each.
2
2. List the specific clients, sectors, or accounts you are trying to protect, so restrictions can be scoped narrowly enough to be enforceable.
3
3. Decide on a realistic restriction period — UK courts rarely uphold more than 12 months for most agency roles; 6 months is more defensible for mid-level staff.
4
4. Define the geographic scope honestly — if your agency operates nationally, say so; if it is regional, do not overclaim.
5
5. Check whether you are also dealing with confidential information or IP — if so, pair this with an NDA or confidentiality clause.
6
6. Have the agreement signed before the working relationship starts, not after — post-commencement agreements require fresh consideration to be binding.
7
7. If the person is a senior hire, equity holder, or the restriction period exceeds 12 months, get a solicitor to review before you rely on it.

FAQ

Are non-compete agreements enforceable in the UK?

Yes, but only if they pass a reasonableness test under UK common law restraint of trade doctrine. The restriction must protect a legitimate business interest, be no wider than necessary in scope, duration, and geography, and be reasonable between the parties. Courts regularly strike down clauses that are too broad. For agency roles, 6–12 months is typically the defensible range; anything longer needs strong justification.

Can I use a non-compete agreement with freelancers and contractors, not just employees?

You can include non-compete clauses in contractor agreements, but enforceability is harder to establish. Courts look at whether the contractor had genuine bargaining power and whether the restriction is proportionate. For contractors, a tightly scoped client non-solicitation clause is often more defensible than a broad non-compete. Make sure the clause is in the original contract, not added later.

What is the difference between a non-compete and a non-solicitation clause?

A non-compete stops someone from working for or setting up a competing business. A non-solicitation clause stops them from approaching your clients or staff, but does not prevent them from working in the same industry. Non-solicitation clauses are generally easier to enforce in the UK because they are narrower. Most agency agreements benefit from having both, scoped separately.

Do I need a solicitor to draft a non-compete agreement for my agency?

Not always. For standard employment or contractor situations with typical restriction periods and clear client relationships, a well-structured template or AI-generated draft is a reasonable starting point. You should involve a solicitor if you are dealing with a senior hire, a co-founder departure, equity arrangements, or if you intend to actually enforce the clause in court — enforcement is where legal advice becomes essential.

Can a non-compete agreement be added after someone has already started working?

It can, but it needs fresh consideration to be legally binding — meaning you need to give the person something of value in exchange for signing it, such as a pay rise, promotion, or bonus. Simply asking an existing employee to sign a new restrictive covenant without offering anything in return is unlikely to be enforceable. Get this right from the start by including it in the original contract.

How long should a non-compete last for an agency employee?

UK courts have upheld restrictions of 6–12 months for most agency roles. Longer periods are occasionally enforced for very senior positions with access to highly sensitive client relationships or trade secrets, but they require clear justification. As a general rule, the more junior the role, the shorter the restriction should be. A 3–6 month restriction for account managers and 6–12 months for directors or partners is a reasonable starting point.

Related Atornee Guides

Cheap Contract Solicitor Alternative (UK)

Useful if you want to understand when Atornee replaces a solicitor and when it does not, across your broader contract workflow.

Cheap Solicitor for NDA (UK)

Non-competes and NDAs often need to work together — pair this when confidentiality protection is also required.

Atornee Use Cases

See how agency founders and other UK business roles use Atornee across different contract and legal document needs.

External References

GOV.UK Business and Self-employed

Official UK government guidance on employment, contracts, and business operations relevant to agency founders.

UK Legislation

Primary statutory reference for UK contract law, including the legal framework within which restraint of trade clauses are assessed.

Trust & Verification Policy

Authored By

A

Atornee Editorial Team

UK Contract Research

Reviewed By

C

Compliance Review Desk

UK Business Legal Content QA

Last reviewed on 3/4/2026

"This content is based on analysis of UK common law restraint of trade principles and how they apply to agency business structures. It reflects patterns from real agency contract scenarios including employee, contractor, and co-founder departure situations."

References & Sources